As time passed and we kept dancing and racking up the money needed for the trip things started to seem weird. For some reason Hanna had been dancing with Lucas almost all night, which in a normal setting would be fine, but she came with Sean and knows the situation between them. As if that wasn't enough, Emily went MIA. This seems to be her thing at dances, a bit too common and dangerous when she tends to get swept off the dance floor without an explanation.

After trying not to stop dancing for what felt like ever, even doing small steps if needed to not feel awkward from my lack of liking to dance and getting some help from my boyfriend and my friends I eventually gave into the need to rest. I head over to the side with Spencer and Aria while Andrew finds some of his friends, but then the girls end up disappearing too and now I'm noticing Hanna and Lucas more since I'm focused and Sean is nowhere in sight.

I don't like the look of this so I take this as my opportunity to walk over and cut into their dance. Hanna looks a little taken back when I ask her to talk over to the side, Lucas walking off to go back to his spot where there's a camera set up to take pictures with life-size cutouts of the Obamas. "What's wrong with this picture?" I ask her gently, staring slightly up at her because her heels make her taller than me rather than being the same height.

Her blue eyes stare into my green ones, the look in them seems scared or secretive. It has to be something with their stalker, which of course no one but Aria knows that I'm aware of it. But she keeps her smile to the best of her ability and just shakes her head. "I know what you're thinking, Jessie. Me and Lucas are just friends."

"I'm not doubting your friendship status. But I'm pretty sure ditching your boyfriend for a friend all night isn't exactly sitting well with him."

She keeps her smile but takes a breath, "I love Sean."

I nod, pressing my lips together. "I know that. And your friends know that. But by the way this night is going Sean doesn't, and Lucas is probably hoping for the best. You know he likes you and you're egging that on."

"Jessie..."

"Hanna, I'm serious. You need to give it a rest and hang out with Sean."

The look on her face kind of slacks a bit before it turns into an annoyed expression. "You need to mind your own business."

"You messing with two of my friends' feelings IS my business, Hanna."

She stares me down for a while, not breaking eye contact with me. Then she scoffs at me and storms off, my mouth dropping at her attitude towards this and I'm left speechless. I don't even know how to handle this as I turn around and head into the hallway, taking this opportunity to head to the bathroom and cool down before having to interact with her or anyone else again. Once I'm relaxed I walk out and see Ezra leaving the mens room at the same time. He spots me and smiles, walking over to me. Lately he's been just as busy as I have been and barely get to see each other anymore.

The tall man in front of me skyrockets my 5'5" height without even trying, and those blue eyes are piercing into mine. Him becoming a teacher has been both a blessing and curse. For one, he's able to help me with work when I need him. But then he's also a hard ass and can't show favoritism when I'm in his class.

"Why hello there." He says in a voice that makes me laugh and smile at him. He always makes me feel like his little sister, like someone he needs to protect or like he needs to make me laugh. I had always been the older sibling, so being like his younger sibling feels good.

"Hello, Ezra." I say after I let out my laugh, leaning against the wall a bit.

He pouts a little at me, sensing my uneasiness. "What's going on? Not having fun?"

I half smile and shrug. It's a little hard to have fun when my head is in the clouds. This mystery person and knowing that I have to tell Aria and her family about what Katie did, and probably now mention it to Bobby since he's here has left me extremely stressed out. But I can't tell him that without telling my family first, so I go with. "Dances aren't my thing."

"Ah yes, I remember. You have two left feet." He says in a joking tone, his face trying to stay serious.

I half snort with a shake of my head and smack him on the arm, "Only I'm allowed to say I have two left feet."

He rubs his arm and says a playful 'ow', "So violent." he adds with a laugh and smile on his face.

I just smile, feeling grateful that despite him being my teacher I know that he's still here for me because he's my friend first. "I heard Simone was picking your brain?"

He smiles from the change of subject before nodding, "She's a very talented writer. I think I got some tips from reading her work as well."

"Maybe this is a push in the right direction since the New York offer fell through."

He smiles at me, now leaning against the wall beside me. His smile is bright, his blue eyes twinkling. I always see him like this, but there's something different about it. He seems more happy than usual. "When my first book is sent to a publisher that likes it you'll be the first to read it before it's out for the public."

I smile back at him, smirking a bit. "I'd be offended if it was any other way." I laugh.

He laughs as well, rubbing my head in his usual brotherly way. His smile slowly fades and that kind of concerns me. "You know I've been worried about you lately."

I bite my lip, probably should have seen that coming. I have been a bit more distant from him these days. I have been busy with work and school, but I hadn't noticed till now that it was more because I wasn't reaching out as much as I used to, or wouldn't really meet with him for our weekly hang outs. I've been so distracted with Aria being back in my life that it's made my focus a little off. Her and her family remind me so much of mine that I've been staying a bit too close to them for comfort, trying hard to get that familiar aspect of my parents and brother back.

Eventually I sigh, seeing the look on his face when he raises his eyebrows from not answering him back for almost a minute. I tend to be in my head a lot and don't notice it right away. So I put the best smile I can, "I'm sorry. I was processing."

He half smiles at me, nodding. "I know. You always get this look on your face when you're in deep thought. Your face wrinkles right here." He pokes his finger right between my eyebrows above the bridge of my nose and I can't help but laugh.

"Oh believe me I know. I've been told plenty of times."

He smiles back at me and then inhales a bit, "Wanna talk about what's in that head of yours?"

I pout my bottom lip a bit, once again thinking hard about it. "I just...I've been trying to reconnect with Aria and her family again. But it's been a bit hard not to compare them to my family."

He nods slowly, seeming to understand what I mean. "The Montgomerys had been gone for a long time. So reconnecting is definitely going to be tough, but I can also see why you're comparing. They have been part of your life for so long that they remind you a lot of yours. That's not a bad thing though. You need all the family you can get."

I sigh now, rubbing my forehead a bit. "I know. But it's getting hard not to want to break down when I'm with them."

"Jessie, you shouldn't feel like you have to keep a front with them. If you're upset, show them that. If you're having a bad day, memories of your parents and Jeff, tell them. Don't keep this to yourself. I'm sure they don't."

I bite my lip a bit now, shaking my head. "They don't keep their feelings from me, but I think they sense my uneasiness so they tiptoe around it."

I hear Ezra sigh softly before his hand cups my chin to have me look up at him. I hadn't realized I was staring at my feet till then. "Be yourself with them the way you always have been with me. Cry, scream, show your grief. Share it with them so they know they aren't alone and that you aren't afraid to show them what's going on with you."

I half smile to his words, feeling like his writing persona slipped in a little bit from how smooth and loving they sounded. But I take it all in, nodding to him and then take a deep breath. His words calm me down and for a while we just stay in this spot in a mutual silence, both needing the company and to process.

...

After the pep talk we change the subject and talk for a bit longer. He gives me more advice that I appreciate because I haven't been able to really talk to anyone to this extent for what feels like a long time, which helps a lot. Once done we both leave the hallway and go back to the dance. For a while I'm by Ezra's side, watching the other kids have a good time, laughing with each other and dancing their hearts out. Despite the rumors that he's seeing a student spreading, not many people seem to notice that I'm standing with him from being absorbed with dancing. So the fact that no one seems to care right now is a relief.

I keep looking around, trying to locate Aria and the others, but to no surprise I can't find them. I do see Lucas at some point, seeing that he's on his own without Hanna and is instead taking pictures for the yearbook. Sean is standing with Noel on the other side of the dancefloor, a look on his face like he wants to hit someone. I obviously don't blame him, because especially tonight it has felt like Hanna keeps choosing Lucas over him even after Lucas egged him on at the party. Bobby had left not long after the dance started, so I don't have to worry too much about him. Then after a few more minutes of standing here I spot Andrew, he walks over to me with a smile and kisses me deeply before telling me that he has to go, which is fine because the dance is almost over and Spencer is my ride home.

A few more minutes pass and a voice pops up from behind me as I'm still looking for my friends, "You look beautiful as always."

My heart skips a beat, knowing that voice and I turn around. Noel Kahn is staring down at me, looking nice in his dress shirt and hands in his dress pants. Most of the people here dressed to impress, but I didn't even bother to do much other than wear clothes I'd wear on a date. My face is now red but I half laugh, "Thanks, Noel."

I'm aware of Ezra staring at us, my eyes shifting to him a bit. But he looks away quickly and walks off, as if knowing it's not his place to interrupt. Then Noel says, "Dance with me?"

I press my lips together, not again. But I don't want to be rude, so I nod and grab his hand gently. "As long as you don't care that I might step on your toes."

He smiles and laughs, gripping my hand in his now. Mona's voice is in my head that he's been crushing on me forever despite dating other girls. But I know he wouldn't ruin my relationship with Andrew for his benefit. "I have strong toes. I can handle it."

After a few dances with Noel, feeling safer with him than most boys our age outside of Andrew I spot Aria dragging Em outside. This is obviously a weird situation as I excuse myself with a kiss to his cheek and then walk over to see what's going on. She tells me that Em stole Hanna's liquor flask that was in her checked bag and is now drunk. Em starts mumbling something about not letting someone get away with it while everyone blames Toby for Alison's murder and that he shouldn't be trapped at home with an ankle monitor. I have no idea what she means by that and Aria looks to be as stumped as I am.

I help her get Emily out of this area and into the hallway and we walk over towards the gym locker room so she's away from the crowd of people, begging her to drink some water. Once we get her inside and onto a bench she watches me with sad eyes for a while as she eventually drinks something while Aria goes to look for Spencer and Hanna. I sit with her, trying to talk to her the best I can but she's slurring her words.

"Em?" I say gently before she looks at me, her eyes dazed out a bit. "Who were you talking about? Who is to blame for Toby being framed?" Even though everyone is against him still it seems like Emily isn't, and I've always been on his side. I've called him here and there, have even gone to visit. But he seems convinced that he's going to jail for this. If Emily can give me more information maybe we can stop this.

She blinks slowly, rubbing her nose as if going to sneeze. "I can't say."

"You can tell me. I want to help."

"Too dangerous." She says with a shake of her head. Her words are still slurred but she seems to be a bit more aware. "If they find out you know you can get hurt."

Now I'm not sure if she's referring to the stalker finding out or the person who framed Toby. For all I know it could be the same person and they figured it out, but she is definitely concerning me on how scared she seems right now despite being drunk off her ass. "Em. We need to help Toby. He's innocent. I've always known that and by the looks of it so do you."

Her eyes connect with mine, her breath a little off as she tries to catch it. I place my hand on her arm and rub it a bit to relax her, waiting for her reply. I can see it all over her face that she wants to tell, her mouth opens and is about to say something when the door to the locker room opens and Spencer pops in with Hanna and Aria, bending down in front of us and looks at Emily. So close to finding things out.

"Hey, Em. We're going to take you to my house now." Spencer says in a concerned voice, looking at me after. "You can sleep over too if you'd like."

I half smile but then I shake my head, knowing that I have to go home. I have to get what I've been hiding off of my chest and I'm hoping this is a good idea and doesn't backfire on me. I'm risking just as much as they are by telling her and her family what my aunt did. Her threats can't be taken lightly. I've seen first hand what her anger can do and I rather not go through that again.

"No, that's okay. You have your hands full for the night. I just need to get my backpack from your car."